The unstoppable momentum of Cheng Rong Plaza could no longer be contained.

With such overwhelming crowds, its success was now guaranteed. The next day, Cheng Rong Plaza continued its shopping lottery event, attracting not only locals from Peng Cheng but also residents from Yang Cheng who had heard about the promotion.

While other shopping centers and department stores worried about having too few customers, Cheng Rong Plaza had to restrict entry on February 2nd for safety concerns. People even had to queue just to enter the mall!

The following day, Xia Xiaolan didn’t need to supervise on-site anymore. Du Zhaohui knew how to manage the lottery rhythm and control the crowd flow – what else was there for her to do? Looking at the trends, the second day’s sales volume might even surpass the first day’s.

Word was that the tenant merchants were ecstatic, hoping Cheng Rong Plaza would continue such consumption-stimulating activities with its deep pockets. By this time, Old Duan probably had no time for confusion anymore, being too busy selling merchandise. After the first day, merchants like him were experiencing both pain and joy – pain from exhaustion and losing their voices after a full day’s work, but joy definitely prevailed!

Though the work was demanding, better business meant more profit for everyone. Moving into the mall meant paying rent and taxes, but the merchants felt more secure. Paying taxes was good – it was honorable to contribute to the nation, and being tax-compliant meant they were running legitimate businesses without having to hide. With high customer traffic, these additional expenses could easily be offset by increased sales volume, and nobody objected to that.

The next morning, even more vendors set up stalls around Cheng Rong Plaza. Besides food and beverage sellers, some were even selling general merchandise – entrepreneurial minds could be found everywhere. Even Xia Hongxia’s lunch box business faced new competition, with several new stalls appearing overnight, infuriating Wang Jingui who had made considerable profit yesterday. Today, while the crowds at Cheng Rong Plaza hadn’t diminished, the business was being diverted.

Some people came prepared to just watch the excitement, even bringing their food. “What’s there to see if you have no money? Think you can win a car? Bah! Bunch of paupers!” Wang Jingui had heard people talking about it just as she opened her stall. Yesterday’s car winner had already completed the paperwork and driven it home. Reportedly, someone offered 40,000 yuan, but the winner refused to sell, making Wang Jingui’s eyes red with envy.

“Mom, lower your voice! If you want to complain, do it quietly. Who’s going to buy our lunch boxes if you’re so loud?” Xia Hongxia argued with Wang Jingui again.

Nearby, Zhu Suizhou and Sheng Xuan sat in a parked car.

“Young Master Du’s Electronics Plaza looks set to make a fortune,” Zhu Suizhou hadn’t anticipated the shopping lottery strategy. When Asia Mall opens in the future, he will need to promote it extensively.

Currently, many people still hold onto old-fashioned thinking – beliefs like ‘good wine needs no bush’ and ‘gold will always shine.’ Such concepts would be the death of many businesses. With the reform and opening up allowing individual and private economic development, the relationship between buyers and sellers was no longer bound by state-fixed prices and designated sales points.

Merchants could set their prices. Customers could choose where to shop. In this situation, attracting customers became crucial. Why believe in ‘good wine needs no bush’? No – whoever shouted the loudest sold the most wine!

Cheng Rong Plaza was undoubtedly excellent at drawing attention. Zhu Suizhou was very interested and wanted to go inside to experience the mall’s atmosphere personally, but considering the queues and Sheng Xuan sitting in the passenger seat, he changed his mind.

Sheng Xuan was beautiful and radiant, and now as a newlywed, she had gained the added charm of a young married woman. Zhu Suizhou was quite satisfied with his wife. She had an impressive career, good education, attractive appearance, and family background that could benefit him – if he wasn’t satisfied with such a wife, he would truly be ungrateful!

Facing his newlywed wife, Zhu Suizhou’s polite enthusiasm finally carried some genuine warmth: “I’ll drop you off at the dormitory first, then go meet Xia Xiaolan. Since I promised to resolve this matter for you, I’ll handle it properly, don’t worry.”

Sheng Xuan nodded, “I’ll follow your lead.”

Inside, she wasn’t completely submissive; she was still somewhat unwilling. But Sheng Xuan was different from Ji Ya – after all, she never really had anything with Tang Hongen, she just wanted to marry him back then. Now that everyone was married, people’s gossip would gradually fade.

Sheng Xuan accepted Zhu Suizhou’s proposal because she saw potential in him. Someone with outstanding business acumen might not necessarily be inferior to those on an official career path. In Peng Cheng, she was indeed struggling. Breaking out of the Peng Cheng circle would allow her career to develop. Transferring to work in Shang Du was Sheng Xuan’s carefully considered decision.

If she had to take a step back before Xia Xiaolan, so be it. They would have plenty of opportunities to interact in the future, and in a few years, who could say who would be better off?

Sheng Xuan decided not to fight for immediate gains but to look at long-term results. How to take that step back? By making her stance clear – no longer helping Ji Ya.

Zhu Suizhou naturally understood her thinking. His newlywed wife was willing to bow her head while maintaining her pride, so he should be the one to explain this to Xia Xiaolan. In business, there are no permanent enemies. Conceding here could mean gaining an advantage elsewhere.

“President Xia, I apologize for disturbing you before the New Year holiday is even over.” When Zhu Suizhou requested to meet, Xia Xiaolan could guess the topic.

Isn’t Zhu Suizhou being too hasty? After consideration, Xia Xiaolan decided to meet. As soon as she sat down, Zhu Suizhou apologized courteously.

“Mr. Zhu, you’re meeting me during your honeymoon period – what exactly do you want to discuss? We’re not strangers, let’s be frank and lay out the matter directly.”

Zhu Suizhou handed Xia Xiaolan a document.

“President Xia, please take a look first.”

“A share transfer agreement? Mr. Zhu, this is…”

Zhu Suizhou was quite generous, transferring 2% of Asia Mall’s shares to her name without compensation. Originally, with Xu Zhongyi’s investment of 1.5 million US dollars plus Building No. 45, Xia Xiaolan held 18% of the shares.

If she signed this document, her shareholding would increase from 18% to 20%.

“I don’t understand Mr. Zhu’s intention.”

Xia Xiaolan was very wary.

She often used such tactics herself – truthfully, when giving away money freely, except to close family, she always expected to receive more in return.

Even Uncle Liu Yong said that Zhu Suizhou’s methods were similar to hers – how could Xia Xiaolan not be cautious?

Zhu Suizhou giving her 2% shares freely must have an ulterior motive, seeking returns greater than the 2% stake in Asia Mall!